Scholarships 101: How to make your application stand out in the crowd

Feb 1 2023

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Feb 1, 2023 at 6:00pm

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Beth Francesco

[email protected]

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Journalism Institute

Spring is scholarship season: With more than $30,000 in National Press Club scholarships available this year, how can students help their applications stand out? 

Join the National Press Club Journalism Institute on Wednesday, Feb. 1, at 6 p.m. ET for a behind-the-scenes discussion on what scholarship judges say makes — or breaks — an applicant’s chances of earning one of five National Press Club scholarships. This year’s deadlines are fast approaching, with the first round due Feb. 15.

During this virtual session, scholarship judges will share tips to help them develop strong essay responses, select and submit their work samples, and prepare their applications. We’ll also leave plenty of time for questions about the scholarships, application process, and eligibility. 

2023 National Press Club scholarships include: 

  • The Scholarship for Journalism Diversity Honoring Julie Schoo is a $5,000 scholarship awarded to a high school senior. The purpose of the scholarship is to recruit promising future journalists who will bring diversity to American journalism. The award can be renewed for up to three years at $5,000 per year.
  • The Richard G. Zimmerman Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $5,000 to support a high school senior who wishes to pursue a career in journalism. 
  • The Wes Vernon Broadcast Scholarship, established in 2021, supports diversity within the field of broadcast journalism. The scholarship is $5,000 per year awarded to a student who demonstrates a commitment to a career in broadcast journalism. The award can be renewed up to three years. The award is open to any student at any stage in their career pursuing an education in broadcast journalism, with a preference for community college students.
  • The Dennis and Shirley Feldman Fellowship recognizes a student pursuing graduate studies in journalism with a one-time stipend of $5,000 to help defray tuition costs. The deadline for this fellowship is April 15, 2023.
  • The Lewis Scholarship, established in 2022, supports a student journalist of color interning in Washington, D.C., by providing free housing and a monthly stipend for the duration of their journalism internship. The scholarship is valued at $10,000 per semester, and it is offered three times a year to support spring, summer, and fall internships.

We hope you’ll attend even if you’re unsure about applying for an NPC scholarship. The tips and tools shared will help with any application you have on your radar.

To register, click here

For more information, email Beth Francesco, interim executive director for the National Press Club Journalism Institute.

About the Institute

The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes an engaged global citizenry through an independent and free press, and equips journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire a more representative democracy. As the non-profit affiliate of the National Press Club, the Institute powers journalism in the public interest.

The National Press Club Journalism Institute serves thousands of people daily with our newsletter, online programming, writing group, and other support. The Institute depends on grants, foundation funds, and contributions from individuals like you. Your donation today allows the Institute to offer the majority of its programming at no cost. If you value the Institute’s services, please donate today. Any amount helps.